MarcusUK flew Air Asia X Premium, on a A330 (22/12/2012 17:34)

This flight on an A333, runs from Melbourne up to KUL each day, with some added extra flights through the week. We flew on the overnight flight leaving tues at 01.30hrs, with others being morning flights, some operate same day offering a two daily service.

I Booked these premium seats from Melbourne, as they were half the price on the similar flight from Sydney (around £1,000 for 2 seats, double this ex Sydney) It was easy to fly down from Sydney with Qantas, as this cost less than £150 for 2 seats and assists with a late eve departure.

Check in was rather busy and chaotic on the economy side, as many people thought they could get away with not buying luggage kg, or being way over these.
Premium check in was a few mins wait, and even though we booked 50kg for luggage and were a little over with 3 suitcases, we were not charged. We had Premier immigration and security tickets, and our bags were Prioritised, which worked at landing coming out first.

Boarding, there was no call for Premium passengers, which lead to a disorganised push and run for most, other Premium passengers being rather annoyed.
On Board, the Premium cabin is only 2-2-2 and two rows. We booked the front two 1K/H, which were quiet.
The seat was better than some Airlines business class, the disappointing Malaysian where the seat beds low and forwards even on the A380 we also flew ex LHR to KUL. V comfortable for sitting and easy to sleep on, though again, it is not a fully 180 flat, but angled seat. (Why do Airlines claim this when it is clear their seat are not 180 fully horizontal flat??!)

Meals were like a supermarket quick cook freezer meal, and lots of menu items which were fast food, or sweets, fizzy drinks, and sugar saturated ice creams, chocolates etc. Cinema food! They certainly could improve on a healthier menu option.

As a Premium passenger, you are entitled to one hot meal, one alcohol drink, and one soft drink, and tea coffee.

There is no explanation as to what is and is not free on the menu for premium passengers so we had to ask how it worked for us, as crew do not explain!
Entertainment was on an ipad with a few good movies and other options to choose from. We had to ask the crew for the earphones as they did not think to give them out.

A Problem is the old table from the seat sides, this was basic, old and rather too small. With a meal or drink, and in turbulence, the ipad had no where to balance and easily fell onto the floor. They could make a sleeve on the front of the seat in front to hold it in perhaps? In heavy turbulence these did slip onto the floor and fall out of the overhead lockers if open, where they were stored.
It was quiet through the flight, though many staff did not engage well with passengers.

We did get some sleep, and for the 8 hr flight, it was worth the fare, many other Airlines charging more than double this rate.
We arrived on time, but had to take a taxi from the Low Cost terminal, to the main terminal, so we could access the Pan pacific hotel overnight.
Overall, whilst being low cost, it is a good fare from Australia into Malaysia, the seat is good (much improved on their old prem versions), and you could eat before, and merely sleep overnight.

Overall fraid at the edges, do not expect great service or food as on the mainstay of fully serviced Airlines, but for the distance and costs it served its purpose.

A little more thought needs go into looking after the premium cabin customers, and better co ordination by the crew, where to put the ipads as no wonder they get damaged, and healthier basic food options.
Otherwise good value and a v good seat, with a new A333 aircraft.

Stephen787 flew Air Asia X Premium, on a A330 (20/05/2012 01:11)

I had booked a $99 intro fare plus $50 of extras from SYD to KUL and had also requested an OptionTown upgrade which is based on seat availability for a fee $115. So when I got the confirmation of the upgrade the day before flying I felt it was a great deal for the 8hr SYD to KUL trip for a total of $265 in the Premium cabin.

The Air AsiaX website is a mess and not good at providing answers to questions and they had twice previously failed to answer my emailed queries. But check-in at Sydney Kingsford Smith airport was easy as they had a separate Premium check-in desk and there was no waiting.

I was allocated seat 1G so there was plenty of legroom in the middle bulkhead seat with a budget version of angled lie-flat seating. This is the same seat that Korean Air are phasing out but without the call button or massage function, but it does the job and you can get quite comfortable for a daytime flight. It was angled but as I was not sleeping it did not matter.

We left the gate 10 mins early, and after take-off the young crew jumped into action to hand out pilows, quilts and any pre-ordered entertainment devices and meals. To their credit they did give me the choice to eat later which was appreciated as we only left a 11am and I was not quite ready to eat then.

There is a BOB menu of basic Asian and western snack items and drinks. Nothing to get excited about though. The only problem with the cabin crew is that there was not obvious way to determine if and when they where serving food or drinks. You simply had to get their attention as they whizzed past at speed otherwise you missed out. I tried the Nasi Lemak which wasn't too bad but the size could have been larger.

The portable video/music unit failed to produce any sound so was sent back to be replaced by a second until that was taped together. I watched one movie on this and gave up on it and used my own iPad for the rest of the flight which had a bigger screen and better sound anyway.

As this was a daytime flight the crew were on hand all through the flight and were quite pleasant once you actually managed to get them to stop and assist you. We landed around 5pm local time and were quickly off the A330 onto the tarmac and into the LCCT terminal. Baggage appeared soon after and then quickly out into the heat of Malaysia.